Times for first two UA games announced

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and the Razorbacks will play the first two games of the 2014 season on the SEC Network.

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and the Razorbacks will play the first two games of the 2014 season on the SEC Network.

The Razorbacks open the season at Auburn on Aug. 30 in a game previously announced as part of the network’s season-opening lineup. But ESPN, which operates the SEC Network, also announced Thursday the network will televise the Razorbacks home opener against Nicholls State on Sept. 6.

Both games are scheduled for 3 p.m. kickoffs.

The SEC Network, which will make its debut on Aug. 14, announced its football schedule for the first four weeks of the season Thursday. Every conference team will play at least one home game on the SEC Network during the four-week stretch.

"The fact that the SEC Network will originate a game from every stadium in the conference in the first four weeks of the 2014 season is testament to the depth of coverage fans can expect from the network," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "In just the first month of the season, fans that get the network will enjoy all the passion and pageantry of SEC football from 14 of the greatest venues in the world of sports. This is what the SEC Network is all about."

The SEC Network — which will be carried by major providers like AT&T U-Verse, Dish Network — will televise 45 football games in the 2014 season. Each of the first two weeks of the season will feature six games.